A film about a homicidal Mexican immigrant has caused outrage among conservatives in Texas three months before it is due to be released.

A provocative trailer for Machete — produced by Quentin Tarantino and starring Lindsay Lohan, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba and Steven Seagal — appears to show the blade-wielding title character declaring war on antiimmigrant US politicians. The clip begins with Machete delivering a threatening message to Arizona, which recently cracked down on illegal immigrants.

The script, leaked to Alex Jones, a right-wing radio talk-show host, seemed to confirm conservatives’ worst fears that the film could incite a race war in the US border states. “Basically it’s a race-war film where if you do not have a completely open border and a North American Union you are a racist devil,” Mr Jones said.

The film could qualify for more than $1.5 million (£1 million) in taxpayer subsidies — infuriating Texans all the more. Hundreds have contacted the Governor, Rick Perry, urging him to deny the film any tax dollars. A decision will be taken once the film is finished.